Global temperatures rising toward point of no return

2016 is on course to be the hottest on record, with temperatures increasing at a rate not seen in 1,000 years, Gavin Schmidt, NASA's top scientist, says in the article.

The world's temperatures have already hit an average of 1.38 percent higher than the average recorded in the 19th century, meaning that the world will need to make drastic emissions cuts immediately to hold to the 1.5c standard agreed to by the world's nations in Paris a couple of years ago.

Bill McKibben in the current New Republic calls for a campaign against climate change at the same intensity as mobilization for war. Yet, climate change is not a leading issue in the presidential campaign.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton promises climate change action, but the crisis isn't at the top of her priorities.

Despite the undeniable evidence, the GOP sees climate change as a hoax. If Donald Trump is elected president, along with a GOP controlled Congress, NASA likely will see severe budget cuts. The Republicans, with their hostility to scientific research, see pessimistic reports such as Schmidt's as bad for business.